Travis, Wilco Counties Under Severe Thunderstorm Watch

AUSTIN, TX — The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Austin area as more rain pounded the region on Thursday, following that up with a severe thunderstorm watch until nightfall.

The warning was in effect until 3:45 p.m. on Thursday before weather officials issued a severe thunderstorm warning until 10 p.m. The warning covers both Travis and Williamson counties, according to the National Weather Service.

Such warnings are especially needed in the Austin region given its location in the midst of the so-called "flash flood alley." The area is prone to flash flooding after heavy rains, as have been seen in the recent past.

Reports of hail have emerged across the region amid the rainfall, and the Austin Energy outage map indicated some 10,000 customers were without power at the storm's peak.

Hours after the storm passed, hundreds of Austin Energy customers remained without power as utility crews worked furiously to restore electricity to homes. In an update on Twitter, utility officials said fewer than 700 customers remained without power by 9:30 p.m.

Austin medics responded to a water rescue at the peak of the storm to rescue people in the water after a kayak overturned amid strong gusts accompanying the rain. According to Austin-Travis County EMS, the incident occurred in the 1200 block of West Cesar Chavez St. just before 3:20 p.m.

Medics ultimately reaching the site found those affected by the overturned kayak were safe, and not in distress.

The latest storms came right before the rush hour, prompting officials to urge motorists to refrain from driving until after 4 p.m. or so. The commute for those already on the roadways was messy, with visibility diminished amid heavy rain.

Motorists are urged to visit ATXfloods.com to see a map of closed low-water crossings to avoid.

The storm front that originated from the Texas Hill Country began moving east of Interstate 35 toward by late afternoon. In Austin, darkened skies and heavy winds presaged the heavy rain.

The inclement weather prompted Austin Parks Foundation officials to postpone its movie screening that had been scheduled Thursday night for its popular "Movies in the Park" offering. The event has been rescheduled until Thursday, June 13, at 8:45pm. An APF spokeswoman told Patch via email the postponement was deemed necessary to protect Palm Park grounds and ensure moviegoers' safety.

Spectrum News posted a video of the storm at the University of Texas at Austin campus, with darkened skies as backdrop to the campus centerpiece Texas Tower in the background.

Residents throughout the region took to Twitter to post video of heavy rain and hail falling in their neighborhoods: